Washing apparatus for locomotives and the like



Oct. 4, 1938. R. D. METCALFE El AL 2,131,964

WASHING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 50', 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 N a O 8. 2 7fief ca l we 094291 0 16 Oct. 4, 1938.

WASHING Filed NOV. 50, 1935 Jr? W "I I. M7114 Q Ill. HI.

R. Dv METCALFE ET AL APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE 2 Sh eets-Sheet 2 C1 0 7776M 6 2- Q Patented Oct. 4, 1938 PATENT OFFICE WASHING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE'LIKE Richard David Metcalfe and James Croxon Metcalfe, Romiley, England- Application November 30,1935, Serial No. 52,429

Great Britain May 27,1935

4 Claims.

This invention has for its object toprovide a simple and efiective apparatus for use in washing locomotives and like steam driven vehicles, the said apparatus being capable of delivering a high pressure high temperature jet, which will penetrate and remove oil, grease and dirt in a ready manner, and due to its heating action will leave a surface which readily dries.

A washing apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises a truck or trolley, an injector like apparatus with automatically loaded overflow valves supported upon said truck or trolley, flexible steam and water supply pipes or connections to said injector like apparatus, and one or more spray nozzle fittings with control valves thereon, receiving the delivery from said injector like apparatus by way of flexible connections. The apparatus may also comprise an oil or like container upon the truck or trolley with means causing a supply of oil or like cleaning fluid from said container to be delivered into the water supply to the injector and so sprayed on to the locomotive being cleaned.

Referring to the accompanying explanatory drawings:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portable washing apparatus for locomotives constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1, of the injector like apparatus and spray nozzle fittings of the portable apparatus.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the injector apparatus drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1 and showing the overflow control arrangements in section.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the water inlet arrangements.

Steam from a suitable boiler (not shown) is passed by way of the flexible pipe a to the injector 1). Water is supplied by a flexible pipe (1 and is controlled by the cock d Overflow takes place by way of the valve h which is loaded by the pressure in the injector delivery chamber through a plunger 2' and lever 1'. A spring k frees the stem of the valve h of any loading pressure when the injector is starting up. m is the delivery nozzle of the injector. The delivery chamber 7!. of the latter has thereon a spring loaded relief valve 12 which determines the maximum delivery pressure and prevents the delivery pipe being subjected to a higher pressure than is necessary to efiect the desired cleaning operation.

The delivery from the injector is taken by flexible connections q to spray nozzles 1, each having a control valve s thereon to regulate the delivery from the nozzle' The actual spray nozzle 1' is removably held in place by the nut 1 so that it can be readily replaced when it wears. 1

The apparatus has a steam inlet pressure gaug t and a delivery pressure gauge u.

The injector like apparatus is mounted upon a pedestal w upon a truck or trolley 12.

As the water and steam supplies are obtained by way of flexible connections (1 and (1 respectively, the truck 12 can be wheeled adjacent to the locomotive or the like to be cleaned and the spray nozzles then directed where required.

With our improved washing apparatus, we can obtain a high delivery pressure relatively to the pressure of the steam supplied to the pipe a, and We also obtain a high delivery temperature so that the spray from the spray nozzles readily penetrates and clears away oily dirt and the cleaned surface, being heated by the water, quickly dries.

Upon the truck 12 is provided a tank a: to contain oil or like cleaning fluid. Steam pressure can be admitted to the bottom of said tank by the pipe I; having the control valve 2 thereon, the steam supply being obtained from the steam connection of the injector as shown. The upper end of the oil tank is connected by means of the pipe I and a sight feed glass ll having a regulating valve [2 thereon, with the water inlet branch 11 of the injector. There is a pressure gauge l3 upon the tank w. Normally water condenses in the pipe y and enters the tank a: so that the oil floats thereon. After the preliminary washing of the locomotive with hot water only, it may be desired to give it an oily finish, the steam valve 2 and the oil valve l2 are opened with the result that oil is forced from the upper part of the tank :1: to the water supply pipe d, the quantity of oil admitted being regulated by the valve l2. The sight glass II shows the quantity of oil passing. The oil becomes mixed with the water supply to the injector producing an emulsion which is sprayed on to the locomotive, giving it a finishing coat.

What we claim is:-

1. A portable washing apparatus for locomotives and the like adapted to be mounted on a truck, a steam injector provided with connections for attachment of flexible pipes for steam and water supplies to said injector, and at least one connection for attachment of a flexible pipe or pipes to the delivery side of said injector, together with a relief valve at the delivery side of said injector arranged to discharge water com 55 ing from said injector when the pressure of said water exceeds a predetermined value.

2. A portable washing apparatus for locomotives and the like adapted to be mounted on a truck, a steam injector, flexible pipes for leading steam and water to said injector, an automatically loaded overflow valve for said injector and at least one flexible pipe leading from the delivery side of said injector and furnished with a spray nozzle at the end thereof furthest from said injector, together with a relief valve at the delivery side of said injector arranged to discharge water coming from said injector when the pressure of said water exceeds a predetermined value.

3. A portable washing apparatus for locomotives and the like adapted to be mounted on a, truck, a steam injector provided with connections for attachment of flexible pipes for steam and water supplies to said injector, together with a container for oil mounted upon said truck, means mounted upon said truck to lead steam into said container and means mounted upon said truck to lead oil from said container under steam pressure into the water supply to said injector, and at least one connection mounted upon said truck for attachment of a flexible pipe or pipes to the delivery side of said injector, together with a relief valve mounted upon said truck at the delivery side of said injector arranged to discharge water coming from said injector when the pressure of said water exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A portable washing apparatus for locomotives and the like adapted to be mounted on a truck, a steam injector, flexible pipes for leading steam and water to said injector, a container for oil, means to lead steam into said container and means to lead oil from said container under steam pressure into the water supply to said injector, an automatically loaded overflow valve for said injector, and at least one flexible pipe leading from the delivery side of said injector and furnished with a spray nozzle at the end thereof furthest from said injector, together with a relief valve at the delivery side of said injector arranged to discharge water coming from said injector when the pressure of said water exceeds a predetermined value.

RICHARD DAVID METCALFE. JAMES CROXON METCALFE. 

